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About this project

It all started almost a year ago with a handful of entertainment
industry geeks hanging out during smoke breaks. The primary topic of
discussion was a wacky independent film they were going to shoot about
gaming. Other topics came up, as well. Among them was trying to think of
ways to stop cyberbullying. Then someone had an idea. It seemed almost
crazy: Do both.

But it couldn't be just any movie. It had to:

Be entertaining and funny

Be a film that people wanted to watch on its own merit

Properly represent internet culture, since we were gamers and geeks

Confront bullying with a subtle and surgical cinematic finesse on a more subconcious level that did not make the film seem like one giant PSA

It turned out that our idea wasn't as crazy as we thought, because as we
pitched it around, people didn't slam the door in our faces right away.
In fact, some of them even decided to hop on board. All the while, the
ideas for the script became greater in scope and our passion for the
project grew exponentially. In the end, we asked our selves a question.
Wouldn't it be great if all of the proceeds went to charities that are
important to us? Well, here we are.

Once completed, 100% of proceeds after production costs and rewards are going to the following organizations:

10% will be donated to The Help Group. Founded
in 1975, The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and
comprehensive nonprofit of its kind in the United States serving
children with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders,
learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional
problems.

5% will be donated to Reading is Fundamental,
a program to motivate young children to read by working with them,
their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and
beneficial part of everyday life.

With established bands, actors, and
industry veterans joining the team, we did a lot of number crunching and
legwork and came up with how much it would cost to get this movie made.
Please help us in reaching that goal, as it could mean far more for the
charities that we are supporting.

Pwned! is a feature-length screwball comedy about seven companions who set out on a cross-country road trip to find their childhood friend who suddenly goes missing. Along the way, they visit and encounter strange and interesting fellow gamers they've never met in real life, resulting in one insane situation after the other.

To give you an idea of where we are coming from, some of our influences include Get Him to the Greek, Superbad, American Pie, The Hangover, South Park, Dr. Tran, and anything Guy Ritchie has even remotely sneezed on.

If you like zany comedies, you will love Pwned, and that's why we are offering the entire completed film to our backers for $15!

Once completed, 25% of every sale of the film will be donated to the Megan Meier Foundation in the US and the Cybersmile Foundation in the UK, as well as other organizations, in an effort to help educate others about cyberbullying.

The film is listed on IMDB, which is a testament to the hard work this team has put into the film before arriving on Kickstarter.

Principle photography will begin Aug 2013 and the film will be shot in California and New Mexico.

We want to stress that the more we raise, the bigger and better this picture will be.

So, without further ado, let us introduce the team.

Peter Podgursky

Peter will be playing the part of Todd, the leader of the group, and he's a bit gullible and a sucker for hitchhikers on bath salts.

Peter is co-creator and star of the Youtube series Meter Maids, as well as numerous shorts by Grumpy Panda Films. Peter is a graduate of USC film school.

Peter’s personality, sense of timing, and brand of comedy are a perfect fit for Pwned!, and we're honored and overjoyed that he believes in the project.

Lejon Stewart

Lejon will be playing T-Bone, an older gamer and a hardcore PvP player. T-bone has had a lot of time on his hands to be playing, and the crew is shocked to find out why when they pick him up in New Mexico.

Lejon is most recognized in the block buster film "Pirates of the Caribbean - 2 (Dead Man's Chest)". He did a cameo in Adam Sandler's "Just Go With It" in 2011. Lejon's recent television credits include NBC 's "Community", "Parenthood" and Fox's "Glee". He also appears on the YouTube webseries "Meter Maids".

We've included a clip of Peter and Lejon for you below courtesy of Grumpy Panda Films.

Nicole Wyland

Nicole will be playing Charly, the gamer girl with a heart. Charly will portray something you don't see every day in movies: a strong gamer girl character. Charly is the balance in the film and keeps the boys in line.

Enthusiastic, fun loving, and yet extremely career minded, Nicole puts all of her energy into every project on which she works. Nicole can be seen on the Discovery Channel, Video Game High School, across the web and in a number of short films. One of those being Freddie Wong's acclaimed Flower Warfare, which garnered over 2 million views in one week.

Nina plays Valerie, the cute and quirky gamer girl. Insecure and always in search of love, Nina has a few surprises in store for everyone with the help of Charly.

Nina is an actor, artist and writer, born and raised in Los Angeles, and a graduate from UC Berkeley with her BA in English. She has studied acting in San Francisco (ACT), New York (Atlantic Theater Co) and her hometown (Carter-Thor, Ivana Chubbuck). She heads up the LA branch of PianoFight (SF Weekly-Voted Best Up-and-Coming Theater Co), producing, directing and acting in new work.

The LA Weekly said her starring role of Maya in Theatre of NOTE's Skeleton Stories was "played to bratty perfection". Other theater credits include, Occupy the Heart, Vagina Monologues, Lysistrata, SF and LA Comedy Fests. Film: Spooks, The Occultist, Nothing But Besties.

Nick plays Ryan, the laid back healer, hence his nickname 'Doc.' He is the definition of cool. But, will he lose that cool?

You hear the stories of directors coming across people in every day life and just knowing that they are right for a part. This was the case with Nick. He embodies everything that is Ryan. We think you will be just as impressed with Nick as we have been.

Josh Hirneisen

Josh plays Pheemer. He's a stoner and a philosopher, and he's the only one who knows how to find their friend. Will he lead them to the promise land?

Not only is Josh an actor, he plays a mage in World of Warcraft, lanes middle as Fizz in League of Legends, and can be found feeding the enemy team in FPS and Fighting games across various consoles. Other interests include nerdy fandoms like Dr Who, Sherlock, and Harry Potter. Josh thinks that Rainbow Dash is best pony, he thinks that FF IX is kick ass, and he knows when the narwahl bacons.

Pwned! has won the support of many established bands, and we're not done yet. We are still working on the soundtrack.

Below you will find a list of the bands (not necessarily the songs) that will be featured in the film. Special thanks to Roadrunner Records, Nuclear Blast, Warner Bros., Sony, and ASOT.

In This Moment is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Their debut album, Beautiful Tragedy, was released in 2007. Their second album, titled The Dream was released the following year debuting at No.73 on the Billboard 200. The band's third album, A Star-Crossed Wasteland was released in 2010, and their fourth album titled Blood was released in August 2012 and debuted at No.15.

They have performed on several notable tours and festivals including Ozzfest in 2007 and 2008, Warped Tour in 2009, Download Festival in 2009, Mayhem Festival in 2010, Music as a Weapon V tour in 2011, And the Uproar Festival in 2012. You can visit their official website here.

A Sound of Thunder is a female fronted American heavy metal band from the Washington DC metro area. Fronted by the self-proclaimed Duchess of Dork, Nina Osegueda, this four piece band is known for its varying styles of musical composition, powerful female vocals, and energetic live shows. What happens when Bruce Dickinson and Rob Halford have a love child? Find out for yourself at their official website.

Nightwish is a very popular Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and vocalist Tarja Turunen.

The band has a film coming out this November titled, 'Imaginaerum,' and you can find the trailer here. You can find out more about Nightwish at their official website.

Joseph Mullen

With over a decade of industry experience, Joseph Mullen is a Cinematographer & Gaffer that captures unique and striking views of the world onto the cellulose frame. Classically trained, he has the ability to become metamorphic in a variety of situations generating original imagery and shooting styles. The industry has come to see him as a team leader and a media “McGyver”.

Quite frankly, Joe is our badass. Without him, this wouldn't be happening. He has contributed his professional talents to broadcast television shows, commercials, and independent films, and his productions have received over several national awards and accreditations.

Nancy Hayes

Reaching our second milestone will allow us to utilize the services of Nancy Hayes Casting. Nancy Hayes Casting is a full-service casting agency that works with directors and producers to find talent for their projects in the San Francisco / Bay Area.

Nancy's office was very excited to be helping out with the casting needs of Pwned! They cast for films, commercials, industrials, voiceovers and print. They've worked on such films as Scream, Toy Story, Interview with the Vampire, High Crimes, Mrs. Doubtfire, and more.

Luke Kearney

James received a call one day from an excited young bloke who was interested in working on Pwned! It turned out to be none other than Luke Kearney.

The name might not be familiar at first, but if you've seen the Batman films, Surrogates, Terminator Salvation, Inception, or Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, you've seen his work as a driver, stuntman, and stunt coordinator.

Luke is an amazing addition to the team and gives us that much more punch. The problem is now we just have to find something to blow up!

Ken Allen

With over two decades in the business, Ken was composer for two dozen or so Sierra On-line games, including the Space Quest and King's Quest series. How &@%$ cool is that? We're talking titles like Descent, Star Trek games, Lord of the Rings, RIFT. The list goes on. Whether it be as a producer or a composer, odds are Ken Allen has touched something in your life if you play video games.

A good producer should have enough confidence to make important decisions
and defend them, but should not be afraid of drudge work. That's our Hannah. The first and most important skill you need as a producer is organization. They keep director's who are bustling with creativity, but can't find their cars keys, in line.

Producers make sure that films run smoothly in all details,
and take responsibility for everything. From organizing creation and handout of flyers for the Kickstarter to contacting locations for shooting, and even keeping James in line (who can't find his car keys), Hannah is already an integral part of the Pwned! team.

Reviewed and evaluated by accredited film professors, Hannah has shot, edited, and produced submissions for "Master Chef" and "The Amazing Race," as well as four documentaries of her own.

Born 1966. Freelance illustrator, cartoonist. Lecturer for storyboard at the Bildkunst Akademie Hamburg for many years. He regularly draws cartoons for Financial Times Germany and various professional journals. For more than 20 years now, he works as a freelance illustrator for advertising agencies, film productions and publishing houses.
Since 1996, he develops the so-called Cartonism, his plastic works made of cardboard.
The father of three children is married and lives in Hamburg, Germany.

Brian McKelvey

Brian has been in the entertainment industry for seven years, having worked at Sony, Lucas Arts, Electronic Arts, and Trion Worlds. He has worked on such epic titles as Rock Band, The Force Unleashed II, RIFT, The Godfather, Deadspace, as well as the Playstation 3 system.

James Weeks

Known as 'Walsingham,' James has been in the video game industry six years, having worked with the likes of Trion
Worlds and Funcom, as well as numerous fansites and a very large sub-reddit.

James is a leader in the truest
sense. He has taken guilds, employees, and companies from chaos to working as a team, and has successfully shaped communities from combative war zones into exciting and engaging environments.

James is the keeper of the flame, and is confident in the vision, his artists and the team
he has put together. He has a plan, but allows the actors room to
create. If he feels they are moving into an unproductive area or that
they may not understand what he wants from them, he does not try to tell
them what to do. Instead he explains his perspective so that the actors understand him and then sits back. It is almost as if he turns
on a colored light that allows the actors to suddenly see things
differently and be inspired.

What are we shooting on? Inquiring geeks want to know.

In the past, films were limited by the vast expense of shooting on film, having it processed, etc. That has changed drastically with the advancements in digital video. Pwned! will be shot in HD Digital, the same media and the very same cameras as have been used in productions such as The Hobbit, Hitchcock, The Man with the Iron Fists, Dredd, Prometheus, and countless others. You can see a list of films shot on RED here.

If we hit our second milestone, this will be on an Arri Alexa. Films shot on the Alexa include The Avengers, Skyfall, Gangster Squad, 21 Jump Street, and Hugo. The Arri Alexa is an
amazing camera and is basically the equivalent of shooting on 35mm
film.

Here is an example of the beauty that is the Arri Alexa:

Oh, we've got them. Good ones, too. Some that will make your head spin. But sadly, we can't talk about them. They are cameos. What would be the fun in that? All we can say is that, from gaming and geek icons to actors, we have some doozies lined up. It's ironic, if we could mention the cameos, we'd be financed in a day.

And this is just the beginning...

As we said, the work is far from over just because we're finally on Kickstarter. We're still making those phone calls, sending out offers in emails, and beating on those doors. Nothing is concrete with what is currently being worked on, but we're attempting to get music from the likes of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Harvey Danger, and more. The more we are able to raise, the better the chances we have of making things like this happen.

And it's not just the music. We're even making offers to mainstream stars and celebrities in the geek community. A good example would be Robert Sheehan of the television show Misfits and numerous other films. He is the one person James wants dearly for a part the he feels no one else could portray. Though he hasn't committed yet, an offer has been made to Robert and he has asked to see the script. Hitting our third milestone will make it that much more possible.

Nearly everyone we have wanted to be a part of the team has jumped on board. The doors are still opening. You make this happen, folks, and you might be surprised who we all see walk through!

Yes, we really do have a lot of rewards. We tried to think of everything possible, and we really didn't want to leave anyone out. Do you have an idea? Let us know, we could add more once we reach new tiers.

The film will be entered into most US festivals before being released, so Kickstarters who back the film on DVD or Blu-ray will get a very early head start on acquiring the film.

* Please note that while we will turn in names for the Pwned! IMDB page as soon as the Kickstarter has completed, it may take IMDB up to two to three weeks to process the information and for it to be visible.

** All images and videos used with permission. A very Special Thanks to Century Media, Roadrunner Records, Arri, Grumpy Panda, A Sound of Thunder, and Freddie Wong for allowing the use of their videos.

Risks and challenges

With any film there are risks and challenges. The first challenge is the financing, and that's where you come in, Kickstarters! The next would be a solid team who can effectively create an amazing feature film. We think we're more than halfway there with that, and completing the Kickstarter will secure the second half. The only other challenge we see that we face is location scouting and getting clearance to utilize those locations, but even that, in the end, will come. We have an amazing team including editors, musicians, composers, actors, and the like, and all of us have the passion and drive for this project. The final challenge could be distribution, but even if the film is not picked up by a major studio, we have the means to sell the DVDs and Blu-rays on our own.

FAQ

This might seem like a very large sum of money, but compared to Hollywood films of the same magnitude, this is a drop in the bucket. We' plan to show that an entertaining movie can made made for far less than tens of millions of dollars.

Keep in mind that we have a full cast and crew. As with any production, we have to provide lodging and food for those folks, as well as their salaries. There is also transportation, locations, props, gear, and post-production, Throw casting, art, stunts, a composer, and established bands into the mix, and that's just a portion of what is involved, but it starts to add up. We really are going for the gold in making the best geek film evah!

Last, but definitely not least, there are the rewards and production costs involved.

That is not our intention. We just want geeks and video gamers to know that it will be genuine in representing our culture. This movie will definitely be able to be watched and enjoyed by everyone. We hate to pigeonhole ourselves and make comparison, as we feel Pwned! is its own animal, but if we had to make a comparisons, it would be a cross between Superbad and The Hangover for the internet generation.

The most important thing to know about the film is that Pwned! is not a short, it is a full-length feature film. It may very well be one of the first geek movies of its kind and magnitude shot outside of the Hollywood system for geeks, by geeks.

The Pwned! production includes a film crew, composer, professional actor's salaries, lodging, camera costs, editing, stunt coordinator, wardrobe, color grading, transportation, established bands, food for the cast and crew, and more. It starts to add up, especially when you factor in the rewards. We feel that we're different in not just what we are attempting to achieve, but how. This is why we've been in pre-production for over 8 months before even coming to Kickstarter.

Every single dollar after our initial goal helps to make Pwned! bigger and better. As an example, if we hit our fourth milestone, we are going to trash a '69 Charger for you guys. And you know you want to see that happen! (The car is purty, but it's a shell. We're not THAT crazy.)

Our exploits will be filmed every bit of the way. The Kickstarter Blu-ray and DVDs will contain Bloopers, diaries, and more not available anywhere else or on any future releases. This means you will have it long before it hits Pirate Bay.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $8 or more
About $8

YOUR CAR IS PWNED! - Whether you are spreading the word about the movie, or just representing your lifestyle, donate $10 and receive the Pwned! bumper sticker + a Pwned! deskstop wallpaper featuring the cast of Pwned! only available on Kickstarter + everything previously listed.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $10 or more
About $10

THE BACKSTAGE PASS - Everything previously listed + A virtual backstage pass to the Pwned! website where you will receive access to digital downloads of bloopers and deleted scenes once filming has completed + you'll get access to first-look video diaries on the movie’s progress as we film! The virtual backstage pass will ONLY be available to Kickstarters and will not be offered after the fact.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $55 or more
About $55

THE OFFICIAL BLU-RAY OR USB FLASH DRIVE - A copy of the official Pwned! HD Blu-Ray Kickstarter Edition containing bonus features made exclusively for this Kickstarter campaign + a special "Thank You" on our Facebook page. This Blu-ray is a special run made just for Kickstarters. You will also receive everything from tier 6 and below. PLEASE SPECIFY BLU-RAY OR USB DRIVE.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $80 or more
About $80

THE SHIRT OFF OUR BACK - Pwned! Movie Crew T-Shirt. This is not just a t-shirt, it's from the limited run of the same shirts worn by our cast and crew. You will also receive 'YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS' and everything above that.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

NEVER GO THIRSTY - Your choice of a 12 oz. Reactive Glaze Pwned! coffee mug or stainless steel Pwned! thermos. You will also receive a Pwned! bumper sticker, access to the backstage pass, the Pwned! wallpaper, a special thank you on Facebook and the website, a digital copy of the script, a digital copy of the score, your name in the end credits of the film, and a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $125 or more
About $125

BAG IT, BABY! A sexy limited edition and custom Pwned! dice pouch made from velvet and silver crepe satin complete with drawstrings and Polyhedral 7-Die Translucent Dice Set. It's time to pwn thy enemies! You will also receive a YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

AUTOGRAPH PACK - An autographed copy of the official Pwned! DVD, blu-ray, t-shirt, or score signed by the director and members of the cast & crew. You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that. Choices of Score or t-shirt will include digital download of the film. (Must specify which item at end of campaign)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $150 or more
About $150

AUTOGRAPH PACK 4 - HARDBOUND SCRIPT - A hardbound copy of the script signed by James Weeks and members of the cast and crew. You will also receive a Pwned! bumper sticker, access to the backstage pass, the Pwned! wallpaper, a special thank you on Facebook and the website, a digital copy of the script, a digital copy of the score, your name in the end credits of the film, a digital download of the film, and a copy of the film on DVD.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $250 or more
About $250

MAKE YOU FAMOUS! - We will name a character (on screen or mentioned) after you in the script, or we will mention your guild's name in the movie. Your name will echo in the halls of geekdom worldwide! + You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that + the movie on DVD or Blu-ray.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $650 or more
About $650

OWN A PIECE OF PWNED! - Your choice of a prop used in the film (we'll make sure it's a cool one), a Cosplay/Halloween costume used in one of the final scenes with a letter of authenticity signed by James Weeks and Hannah Ervin, or an original 8" x 11" storyboard from the film drawn by Björn von Schlippe‏ and signed by members of the cast and crew. You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that + the movie on DVD or Blu-ray.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $800 or more
About $800

ALL THE THINGS! - A signed copy of the Pwned! DVD (or Blu-ray) + a signed copy of the script + a signed copy of the Pwned! score + a personal thank you letter signed by director and Producer + a signed Pwned! T-Shirt, the Pwned! bottle opener and keychain, stainless steel thermos (or coffee mug), a Pwned! mousepad, and Pwned! hoodie. You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that + the movie on DVD or Blu-ray.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $800 or more
About $800

BACON! Attend a bacon party with the director, producer, and members of the cast. It will be a night of gaming and madness, but most importantly a plethora of various foods and bacony goodness! You and guest will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that + the movie on DVD or Blu-ray. (transportation not provided)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $850 or more
About $850

PWNED! PREMIERE - You'll get Two (2) tickets to the San Francisco East Bay premiere and after party + an ASSOCIATE PRODUCER title on the film’s end credits and on IMDB! + 5 copies of the DVD and Digital Pack. Hang out with the cast and crew from Pwned! This role will be listed on IMDB as soon as the campaign has completed. If you cannot make the premiere, you still receive the title. (Travel and lodging not included.)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $900 or more
About $900

GAME NIGHT - You pick the game, we show up. For those who can't make it out to meet the cast & crew, we'll have an online gaming night with you on Ventrilo. You pick the online multiplayer PC game and we'll play well into the night. You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that + the movie on DVD or Blu-ray.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $1,337 or more
About $1,337

YOU ARE LEET! - A role in the film (possibly minor speaking, depending upon talent). You will also receive a copy of the official Kickstarter DVD, a copy of the script, and a Pwned! T-shirt.. This role will be listed on IMDB as soon as you win and the Kickstarter has completed. You will also receive YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS and everything above that.THIS ROLE WILL BE LISTED AS A CAST MEMBER ON IMDB. (must provide own transportation and accommodations)

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,500 or more
About $2,500

KEN ALLEN SCORES FOR YOU - Game and film composer Ken Allen will score an instrumental song for you or your project. You pick the style, Ken writes it. The song will be no longer than 3 minutes and cannot be used in any content that would receive an AO rating or higher (no adult content). The song may not be altered without Ken's permission, and may not be used in any way which would cast him in a disparaging light. Ken will retain all copyrights, and credit for the song must be given in any capacity utilized.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $5,000 or more
About $5,000

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Executive Producer role on beginning and ending credits and IMDB. This role will be listed on IMDB as soon as you win and the Kickstarter has completed. As an Executive Producer, you are welcome to visit the set during filming, attend rehearsals, hang out with the cast and crew, and review cuts of the film as it progresses through post production. You will also receive a copy of the film on DVD and an autographed script.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $8,000 or more
About $8,000

KICK THE TIRES AND LIGHT THE FIRES, BIG DADDY - You will receive 2 tickets to Comic-Con or PAX (your choice) at which you and a guest will get to hang out with the director and some of the cast and crew from Pwned! Four days lodging provided, but you must provide transportation to San Diego (we'll drag you around anywhere else we might go).

Even when not at the convention you'll be hanging with us. We won't leave your side. Never a dull moment. Seriously, we need friends. You will also receive Executive Producer credit on the film and on IMDB. You are welcome to visit the set during filming, attend rehearsals, hang out with the cast and crew, and review cuts of the film as it progresses through post production. You will also receive a copy of the film on Blu-Ray, a Pwned! T-shirt, a Pwned! keychain and mousepad, a hard copy of the script, access to the Virtual Backstage Pass, and 10 copies of the DVD to gift to your friends. Don't forget your Deadpool costume!